"I'll Make a Man Out of You" is Li Shang's signature song in Disney's Mulan. Shang's song describes how fighters must be ideal men. He trains the fighters to learn how to defeat Yu's Huns.
Lyrics[]
Shang: Let's get down to business-to defeat the Huns!
Did they send me daughters when I asked for sons?
You're the saddest bunch I've ever met
But you can bet before we're through
Mister, I'll make a man out of you
Tranquil as a forest
But on fire within
Once you find your center
You are sure to win
You're a spineless, pale, pathetic lot
And you haven't got a clue
Somehow, I'll make a man out of you
Chien-Po: I'm never gonna catch my breath
Yao: Say goodbye to those who knew me
Ling: Boy, I was a full in school for cutting gym
Mush: This guy's got him scared to death
Mulan: I hope he doesn't see right through me
Chien-Po: Now I really wish I knew how to swim
Chorus: (Be a man)
Shang: We must be swift as the coursing river
Chorus: (Be a man)
Shang: With all the force of a great typhoon
Chorus: (Be a man)
Shang: With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
Time is racing toward us till the Huns arrive
Heed my every order and you might survive
You're unsuited for the rage of war
So pack up, go home, you're through
How could I make a man out of you?
Chorus: (Be a man)
Shang: We must be swift as the coursing river
Chorus: (Be a man)
Shang: With all the force of a great typhoon
Chorus: (Be a man)
Shang and Chorus: With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
Chorus: (Be a man)
Shang: We must be swift as the coursing river
Chorus: (Be a man)
Shang: With all the force of a great typhoon
Chorus: (Be a man)
Shang and Chorus: With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
Reprise[]
(Be a Man)
You must be swift as the coursing river
(Be a Man)
With all the force of a great typhoon
(Be a Man)
With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
Trivia[]
- A similar song called "Lesson Number One" appears in the critically-despised sequel Mulan 2.